Tokyo, Japan is preparing for an Olympic Games under the shadow of the epidemic. Pope Francis’s instruction on sports is a way to strengthen harmony between people. I pray that athletes from all over the world will work together to win the most beautiful medal of human brotherhood under the five rings of the Olympic Games.
(Vatican News Network)As the Tokyo Olympics is about to be held, some people have called it the “sad Olympics.” In order to avoid the spread of the epidemic, there will be no spectators in the stands of the stadium, and athletes are not allowed to hug each other. Winners will hang their medals around their necks to avoid any possible contact. One year after the Tokyo Olympics was postponed, due to the pandemic, Japan is preparing to host this sporting event with ambivalence: joy and depression, pride and worry. However, in this Olympics, due to strict anti-epidemic measures, perhaps the meaning (and value) of this event can be fully embodied from its symbol, that is, the intertwined five-ring flag, which fully reflects the brotherhood and harmony among peoples of all countries. come out. In today’s world, this is indeed a much-needed message, because we all realize that “everyone is on this boat”. In many difficult situations, facing an unexpected change in the times, the consequences are still not possible. prediction.
Pope Francis has repeatedly emphasized the educational potential of sports for young people, that is, the importance of “dare to take risks”, fair competition and the value of failure. Because whether in sports or in life, it is easier to see a person’s noble spirit in defeat than in victory. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport at the beginning of the year, the pope said: “Victory brings you great excitement, but failure also has its own magic. Failure is the mother of success, because when experiencing failure, it opens the way to continue the journey. Desire.” The pope reminded Paralympic athletes that sport is “a universal language that transcends cultural, social, religious and physical differences. It can unite people to participate in the same event and become the protagonist of victory and defeat.”
In addition, Pope Francis has repeatedly expressed his admiration for the hobby spirit and team nature of sports and its social function. Therefore, I hope that the Tokyo Olympics can combine intense competition with a spirit of solidarity, overcome the limitations of human nature, and share the fragility of human nature. Today, more than ever before, we face not only the challenge of winning the gold medal, but also the challenge of jointly winning the medal of human brotherhood.
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